The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-14
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Brief History of His Early Life and
Aehieyements-nis Peculiarities.


the bulletins bore the telegram of Secretary
Stanton announcing the death OF the President
at twenty minutes past O'clock.
General and Mrs. Grant had come to the cap
ital. and were invited to attend the presentation
of "Our American Cousin" at Fords Theater,
with the President and Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs
Senator Harris. Major Rath bone, Secretary and
Mrs Stanton. General Grant and wife were
called from the city, and for some reason Secre-
tary Stanton and wife did not attend. The
President and Mrs. Lincoln, with Mrs. Harris
and Major Rathboue. occupied private box.
About half-past P. NJ. q entered the box
unseen. approached the President from be-
hind, and fired. He then jumped from
the box TO the stage. An unforeseen acct
dent here happened him that probably pre-
vented his ultimate escape. One of his heavy
spurs caneht, in the folds of I'm American flag
that canopied the Presidents box throwing him
to the floor and injuring his ankle. He then
passed across the stage, disappeared behind the
scenes and left the building by stairway in the
rear His accomplices were waiting there. and
be- with one companion, left the city horse
back; riding hastily southwark, by which means
he no doubt intended to elude pursuit, and leave
the country. He had planned his attack we'll.
As an actor he was familiar with the theater.
Knowing the play we'll ne appeared at that stage
in the performance when there was only
character on the stage, Lord Dundreary.
Or his pursuit and death little may be said
here more than that be was followed and over
taken on April %, in barn whore he and his
companion had taken refuge. He refused to sur
render. and was shot by Boston Corbett He
dIadr f he md 4
The cause of this mad freak is surely not posi-
lively known. Many theories have been ad
vanced and abandoned untenable But the
icea that the assassin had faint of insanity, in
herited from his father, Junius Brutus Booth,
s the more credited now One fact is certain,
that if it was prompted by the overthrown lead
ers of the Confederacy, it. failed in the accom-
plishment of the least of their desires.
Lincoln stands alone as a man of prominence
in his family. No ancestor had ever accom-
plished any thing of note and none have followed
him to emiuence. He was not type. He was
peculiar A man of the world, educated among
men and in the worlds rough school, he had
his own individuality ana ever preserved it. He
possessed triple nature, necessary to success
in representative government-honesty, cour-
age and generosity. He was the greatest char
acter of the fercest civil war and preserved his
greatness untarnished. Would he have been as
magnanimous IN his action toward the conquered
States as be mad been generous during the time
of war! He knt no such { hing as envy and
recognized no Sucl WofG as revenge. tie never
courted in high places nor scorned one
because he occupied lower rank.
Lincoln of Dutch extraction. His grand
father Abraham for whom Lincoln was named
migrated to Virginia from Berks county, Penn
sylvarla. thence to Kentucky. in 1880 He was
killed by the Indians. He was the father of
five small children, of which Thomas Lincolns
father, was the third Thomas was uneducated,
vet intelligent, amiable and good natured His
mother, whose maiden name was Name Hanks
he
life never permitted the qualification of her de-
sire. See could read, and taught young Lincoln
this accomplishment. He always spoke of her
as his ''angel mother" she having died when he
was only ten years of age.
Lincoln was born Feb. II, 1909, in Hardin
county. Kentucky but that portion is now in
cluded in La Rue county. II was wild. rough
place. Much of it was barren; a portion quite
mountainous Two hills there had risen TO tina
dignity of peaks in name-one Blue Ball, ttss
other, Shiny mountain. He resided here until
seven years of age, when his father sold out and
determined to get beyond the influence of
slavery. He said he wanted to educate his chit
dren and could not do if he remained there
In the fall of 1916 he came to Indiana and built
a home in the forest in Spencer county near
where Gentryville no Y stands.
1t was here his mother died. They buried
her be meath tree in the yard. as cemeteries
were unknown then. Young Lincoln asked a
preacher named Elkins to come from Kentucky
and preach her funeral, some two months after
she was buried. He rode distance of 100
miles to do it.
Young Lincoln was first under the tuition of
an itinerant Catholic pedacogue named Rinev
and then a young man of excellent character
ard considerable knowledge, named Caleb
Hazel. This was while yet resident of Ken
lucky. After coming to Indiana he attended
school for about six weeks, the teacher being
changed three times; the last was named Darcy.
He inspired the boy with desire for knowledge,
and he remained in the neigh borhood for
time. they became fast friends Abe
learned easily. and could soon read and write,
an accomplishment possessed by few then on
the frontier. He borrowed and read all the
books of the neighborhood Among these were
the Bible, Life of Washington, life of Henry
Clay IA Life of franklin" 'The Pilgrims
Progress" and "Esops Fables" His education
mostly acquired by actual contact with the
world. He must have possessed wonderful
capacity and unlimited wilI-power to have
come all the obstacles thus cast in his way. He
wrote all the letters for the people in the county
for miles around.
In 1919 Thomas Lincoln married again This
time Sallie Johnston. She was widow and
brought three children to the Lincoln home.
She treated both sets of children with the same
motherly care She lived until her step son be-
came President of the United States. She al
ways said that Abe was the best of her children.
Abe inherited many Of the characteristics of his
own mother, especially her loving and sympa-
thetic nature He earned his first dollar by
taking two men out to steamer in the river on
fatbost constructed by himself. He used to
ride through the forest fifty miles to mill He
made trip to New Orleans fiat boat in
S28 The distance was nearly 2, 900 miles He
was now over six feet tall, lapk ana muscular
1t is said that he vanquished whole drove ef
thieving negroes while this trip by knockir a
them down with a handspike. He came hor a.
on foot Two years later the family removed h
Macon county, Illinois. He helped his fa' ,h.
build house and plant his crop. and the q lie
hired ont TO work on farm. Here he split r,.l
to buy clothing. Gath is authority for the st..te
| ment that he made 400 rails for yard Of BROW
| jeans, colored with white walnut bark.
He again moved with his father to Cole
| county. Here his father lived until his sieatb
| in 1851. He built boat at Sangamon tts take
| cargo of hogs down the river Lincoln VIA I CON,
| PEELED to carry all the hogs boz r j in hi
arms-a feat easily accomplished on atM cunt O
his great size and strength. When he -aturne
from this trip he went to clerk in a ste = at Ne,
| Salem for man named Offutt. He Was goo
story teller and strictly honest, SO a proved
| valuable clerk Here he got the mar ne of .Hor
est Abe" II is told that he woiI 4 walk 70
miles to correct mistakes made by b i'm as clerl
He also began reading the Lor isyille Dali
| journal here.
Black Hawks war broke orr in 1892 an
| Lincoln enlisted and was chos n captain of
| company. He had to naintai q this place b
| whipping competitor. This fis easily did q
went far the mouth 81 the Sack rive
| when his company returned lGme He contn
ned in the service, but was r .or in any ensag.
ment He then ran fo- ii - Legislature, hu
was defeated He kept st ore fer awhile, bu